After a week of uncertainty, Vanderbilt rising senior Josie Hahn is
officially entered in the United States Track and Field Olympic Trials.
Olympic Trials officials informed Hahn and coach Lori Shepard late
Wednesday that the Vanderbilt standout would be included in the
24-woman heptathlon field. The top three finishers will represent
America at the Olympics later this summer in Athens, Greece.
Hahn, a native of Clinton, Tenn., will be joined by a former Commodore
at the trials. Ryan Tolbert-Jackson, a national champion in the
400-meter hurdles for Vanderbilt in 1997, will also attempt to make the
American Olympic team. No Vanderbilt track and field athlete has ever
represented the United States at the Olympics.
The Trials start Friday on the campus of Sacramento State University in
northern California. Hahn and Tolbert-Jackson both compete on the
opening day of the 10-day national competition. The heptathlon is
expected to receive national television coverage. The USA Network
will televise coverage from 10 p.m.-midnight (CST) Friday. NBC
will air an hour of live primetime coverage Saturday starting at 7 p.m.
(CST).
Hahn competes in the most grueling event in women’s track and
field. The heptathlon is a seven-event discipline, including the
100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump,
javelin and 800-meter run. Four events are scheduled Friday, with
the long jump, javelin and 800 scheduled Saturday. Hahn earned her spot
in the heptathlon field two weeks ago, accumulating a 5,503-point total
at a pre-trial event in Provo, Utah. The performance upped Hahn’s
previous school record by 11 points.
Hahn enters the competition with fond memories of the Sacramento State
facility. Last year, she set a school record in Sacramento during
an All-American effort at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field
Championships.
Hahn’s chances at the Trials likely hinge on a solid start Friday. The
first heptathlon event, the 100-meter hurdles, is one of Hahn’s least
impressive events. She follows the hurdles with the high jump, where she ranks among the best with a 6’0" school record.
The heptathlon field includes six performers with efforts above 6,000
points. The national leader is Sheila Burrell, an Olympic team
member in 2000.
Tolbert-Jackson also competes Friday in the 400-meter hurdle
preliminaries. If she advances, Tolbert-Jackson will run Saturday
afternoon in the semifinals. The 400-meter hurdle finals are
scheduled for Sunday afternoon. In 2000, Tolbert-Jackson narrowly
missed the hurdle finals, running the ninth-fastest time in the
semifinals. The top eight advanced to the finals.
Media Contact: Larry Leathers, (615) 343-6437
larry.leathers@vanderbilt.edu